WEBVTT

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- This might be a golden moment
for CMOs who are curious.

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- While in Cannes, we talked about

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the number of CMOs that became CEOs

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and we can probably count
them on maybe two hands.

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Why do you think there's
such a gap in terms of CMOs

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wanting to be CEOs or
being able to get there?

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- So I think it starts with
desire and intentionality

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that this is a path you want to take,

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because it's a path that
requires operational rigor.

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It requires being the person who,

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everything rolls uphill when
you're a CEO, not downhill.

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I think a couple other
things need to be true.

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I think you want to
either have had experience

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pivoting through your role,

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whether that's business
transformation through your company,

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whether it's transformation

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through the products you're leading.

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I think those things are
huge added advantages.

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And then I think it's

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having the ability to
lead through good times

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and through tough times,

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because Lord knows
there are both of those,

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and we probably are in some
choppy waters right now.

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- Let's talk about that.

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Almost all CEOs are in
transformation mode right now,

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which means whoever is at the helm

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is A, trying to navigate the fog of war,

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and B, has to be bringing
in unique thinking.

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Does this present more of an opportunity

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for the CMOs that want to be CEOs?

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- I actually think it does.

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I think in some ways this
might be a golden moment

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for CMOs who are curious,

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which is a trait that I think
runs through many, many CMOs.

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I think it's a time for
people who know how to pivot

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and navigate and understand
the external stakeholder world

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as well as how to influence change inside,

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so I think change

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might make for a bit
of an aperture opening

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that we haven't seen in quite some time.

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- So as a CEO, what was
the biggest surprise to you

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when you got into the hot seat?

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- You have to find people

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where you can release a
little bit of this because,

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as you and I talked about,
the job can be lonely.

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I was a first-time CEO.

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There are things you're prepared for

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and there's so many things you're not,

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and the things you're not prepared for

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might be small things, but
the small things can get you

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just like the big things can.

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- Thank you so much.
- Thank you, Sarah.

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(gentle music)